THE Costa Allegra, eight-deck-high, 620ft-long sister ship to the Costa Concordia, is adrift without power, reports say. A fire has knocked out the electrics. The Costa Allegra is off the coast of east Africa, 200 miles off the coast of the Seychelles – about 20 miles off Alphonse Island. Onboard are 636 passengers and 413 crew. The Costa Allegra was sailing from Diego Suarez in Madagascar to Victoria, the Seychelles.

Says the company:

“The fire did not spread to any other area of the ship. There were no injuries or casualties. Checks are under way in the engine room to re-start the instruments necessary to reactivate the functioning of the ship.”

But no need to panic. The pirates are not there. A 295ft fishing trawler is on tis way. Then a tug boat will follow.

Italian Coast Guard Commander Cosimo Nicastro tells SkyTG24 TV:

“The passengers are fine. The ship is completely safe. Other vessels are also on their way. The captain is updating us regularly about the situation on board”…

From a dingy… No, only joking. All is well. Michael Rosette, the Seychelles deputy army chief of staff, tells media:

“We have made contact with the vessel. We are sending assistance. There are no casualties.”